****
On the last Monday of the academic year, the auditorium was filled to capacity for the high school graduation that was independent from the other college graduations.
After brief speeches from the principal and guests, Doctor Dorothy Infield walked to the rostrum and smiled at the hundred and five graduates. Though small in number compared with high schools throughout the city, the students here were every bit as proud and striking in their light blue graduation gowns.
Courtney sat only a few seats away from Ken, while Linda with her surname Wycherley, was near the back of the student body and in front of the public guests. She glanced back and tried to see Renee and the others but couldn't. It was time for her line to move to the off stage assembly area. The gowns of her companions glistened in the light and her own felt cool with its smooth, silken material and the tassel from her mortarboard bobbing in the periphery of her vision.
"Courtney Elizabeth Howlett," the announcer said. In almost a trance, she stepped out in front of hundreds of guests and shook hands with Doctor Infield.
"Congratulations, Courtney," Dorothy said. "When you leave the stage, please go into the backstage area."
Courtney's heart thumped. That meant she was due a special award but for what she had no idea.
"Thank you, Doctor Infield," she replied and amidst the applause from the gallery, received her diploma.
Fifteen minutes later Linda joined her in the dim back room. "Linda," Courtney whispered. "My God, you're here, too. Do you know what you won?"
"No idea but I knew you were here when you didn't come back off the stage. God, I'm nervous."
They waited and more students appeared until there were close to twenty standing or sitting in the room. Most appeared excited but a few attempted to hide their feelings and remained remote or serious.
A hush crossed the room when one of the professors walked in. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said and a ripple of laughter went through the group. "The front row of the auditorium has been cleared for your use. From there you will be called to the stage. After you receive your new award you move to the rear of the stage where seats are provided."
Courtney grinned at Linda and made sure they sat together for the remaining part of the ceremony.
"Our first Merit Certificate is for our oldest graduate, Mrs. Mary Jensen," Dorothy announced. "We will not give you Mary's age but suffice it to say she is over eighteen."
The audience clapped and chuckled as a silver-haired grandmother walked onto the stage and received her certificate.
"And our youngest graduate, sixteen-year-old Linda Wycherley."
Linda smiled at Courtney and followed Mary up.
More certificates were awarded before the dean moved to a side table with several trophies and cups sitting on it.
"The judges of the English Department essay on a current issue stated the final five selections were of extremely high quality but the winner stood out for her persuasive style, excellent structural skills and overall presentation. The winning essay is entitled, Being Lonely in a Crowd by Courtney Howlet. Step forward please, Courtney."
Courtney's heart raced as she made her way forward, received her award and found herself beside Linda. Their eyes met and Linda gave a nervous smile as the seats around them filled and the auditorium broke into thunderous applause.
"Finally," Doctor Infield announced. "The Robert Peching Memorial Trophy for the top student of the Northside Community College's high school graduation class goes to our youngest student. Miss Linda Wycherley has topped the school with an 'A' in every subject and a top mark of ninety-two percent in chemistry."
"Oh hell," Linda whispered as Courtney squeezed her arm.
She received a huge silver cup and a massive bunch of flowers while the auditorium erupted into claps, hoots and cheers. It was obvious she was a popular winner.
"Would a member of Linda's family please come forward to be with her?" the announcer said over the address system.
****
When the announcement asked for a family member to come forward, Linda glanced back and saw Courtney nod.
"Look," her friend mouthed.
The spotlight focused on one man who stood. He walked with a distinct limp but held his head high. Linda strained her eyes and recognized the gaunt figure. Jack was making his way forward, took the stairs one step at a time and was there beside her.
"Hello Sweetheart," he said in his gruff voice. "Can I be your grandad?"
"Oh Jack," Linda replied. She placed her arm through his and turned to face the dean. "This is my chosen grandfather, Jack Bonnett. I need nobody else with me today."
"I understand," Dorothy replied and shook the man's hand. "It must be a proud moment for you, Jack."
"Aye, it is. I have two grand friends with me here on stage," the elderly man replied as he tucked an arm around the sniffing youngster and turned to wink at Courtney. Then, with old-fashioned dignity, he extracted a crisp, white handkerchief from his top pocket and handed it to Linda. "Here, Sweetheart. Wipe those tears from your beautiful face. This is a time for our top student to rejoice. You make an old man so proud."
"Thank you, Jack." Linda sniffed. She wiped away the tears. The smile returned to her face as lights flooded the auditorium and she waved at the cheering crowd.
****
"We now invite family members of our other graduates on the stage to come forward," the public address system blared.
Courtney could see Lem and Renee but someone was with them. As the trio walked closer she shook and tears sprung to her eyes.
The three arrived and a grey-haired man appeared on stage with a broad smile.
"Daddy. What are you doing here?"
Hank Howlett took his daughter in his arms. "I've come to see my daughter graduate, Pumpkin."
Tears flowed from Courtney's eyes. Pumpkin. Daddy called her that at grade school. "But how?"
"Lem contacted me about your graduation. I flew in from London."
"London, England?"
"That's right, Pumpkin."
"And you came across the world just for my graduation?"
"Lem contacted me and told everything about you, Courtney. So here I am."
"Oh Daddy," Courtney said and burst into tears again. "Thank you for coming."
She turned to Lem and Renee standing beside her and hugged them. "Thank you."
"That completes the formal graduation service, ladies and gentlemen." The public address speaker interrupted. "If the graduates and guests would like to move through to the student cafeteria…"
Shouts, screams and cheers drowned out the message as the graduates stood in unison and mortarboards were thrown traditionally into the air. Students embraced one another in celebration and tears of joy flowed freely throughout the auditorium.
Courtney turned, found Ken, kissed him passionately and dragged him to meet her father. Linda hugged Jack and Diane and the group moved off the stage to follow the crowd into the cafeteria.
****
Renee, who tried to maintain a professional neutral view, studied the reactions of her friends to Hank Howlett's arrival. Courtney was enraptured and spent all of Tuesday showing her father around Seattle. Ken withdrew into himself but said the proper things while Lem and Linda were suspicious of the man's appearance.
"Oh, he's pleasant enough," Lem confided when they were in bed that night. "But why now?"
"Why not, Sweetheart?"
"When I contacted him a few weeks back, I received a formal and curt reply. So much so, I didn't tell anyone. Then we get this phone call and here he is. Now, if he's the loving father he wants us to believe, why didn't he help Courtney earlier? You can't say he didn't know where she was all this time."
"He'd just separated and was probably stressed out."
"Enough to ignore your only daughter for almost two years? He never sent her birthday or Christmas cards. At least her mother did that."
"I agree," Renee responded. "But Courtney is
so excited, let her enjoy having him around. When he goes home, she'll carry on with her life."
"We'll see," Lem replied. "I hope she doesn't get carried away in her enthusiasm and do something she may regret later."
He kissed Renee warmly on the lips, turned off the light and dropped off to sleep. She lay in the darkness thinking. There was something not right about the situation. Perhaps she could get their firm's investigator to probe. Cameron Lowe had that knack of turning up things an average person would never find.
****
Renee arrived at work on Thursday morning to see Cameron sitting with his feet on her desk, blowing cigarette smoke below the We're a smoke free office sign.
"I tried to keep him in the reception area and stop him from smoking," their red-faced receptionist apologized.
"Don't worry, Anne," Renee replied. "You'll see a lot of Cameron. He doesn't believe in protocol but he's one of the best investigators in the state. Just let him have his way."
"Hi, Renee," the man being discussed called out. "I was in Seattle on another job and thought I'd drop in. I like the flashy office."
"Yes, it is nice." Renee took off her coat and sat in the client's chair. "Did you find out anything?"
"Plenty. Your Hank Howlett has ulterior motives, all right. He came back to the United States to apply for a British work permit. British immigration laws state applications must be made from outside the United Kingdom. His permit expired and he is reapplying."
"Okay but how does that affect Courtney?"
"Howlett's a resourceful guy," Cameron continued. "He obtained her high school graduation results and had them recognized by the British. She is enrolled at Cambridge University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country."
"How did he get the university to accept her without her knowledge?"
Cameron shrugged. "Forged her signature, I guess."
Renee grimaced. "But why? "
The detective leaned back in the swivel chair and grinned. "Prestige, Renee. The Brits are class conscious and regard Americans as brass foreigners. Now imagine if you have a daughter in one of the icons of 'Old Money'…Cambridge University. It will enhance your social standing considerably. The girlfriend too."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Renee retorted. "Who's the damn woman?"
"Lady Jane Hunter-Browne. Browne with an 'e'. She's divorced from her husband, Sir Jonathan Hunter-Browne but naturally wants to keep her title and standing in the aristocratic society." Cameron's sarcasm was heavy-handed.
"So this uncouth Yank has no show with her unless he can aspire to society's expectations?"
"That's about it. Having a daughter at Cambridge gets him on the first foot of the ladder," Cameron replied. "It will help his work permit application and standing in the firm that employs him. He's a high paid regional manager for a British electronics firm."
"Thanks for all that, Cameron. What do I owe you?"
The detective grinned, stood and ground out his cigarette in a potted plant water container. "It's on the house. Just toss me more of your court work over the next few weeks."
"Done," Renee replied and reached for his hand. "I do want more on Linda Wycherley's father."
"Yes. A sad situation. There are a couple of leads I'm following on that gentleman."
Renee studied her colleague. When Cameron got his teeth in somebody there was no letting go. She almost felt sorry for Linda's father. Almost, but not really. The bastard deserved everything that he was going to get.
****
CHAPTER 22
The argument that evening after Hank dropped his daughter off and returned to his hotel was the most serious Renee could remember since she knew Courtney. The girl came into the house on an emotional high after her father had told her of the plans to take her back to England and enroll her at Cambridge University. However, she must have read Renee or Lem's subdued body language, for she immediately flew on the defensive.
"What's wrong?" she shouted. "I thought you'd be thrilled for me and look at you both. You'd think I'd committed a mass murder or something."
"Going home with your father is one option you can take, Courtney," Lem said in a quiet voice. "But there are others."
"Like what?" Courtney retorted. Her eyes looked wild and hurt.
"You may get accepted for Washington State and we know you can study for a degree at Northside College."
"You'll be leaving your friends here," Renee added. "Have you talked about this with Ken?"
"Not yet," Courtney said in a quieter voice. "I wanted to tell you first but I was wrong, wasn't I?" She glared at Renee. "I thought you were my friends but I was damn wrong. You don't care about me."
"Oh Courtney," Renee replied.
"Well, you don't. You only care about what is keeping me here in Seattle." She flung her arms out in exasperation. "There's a whole world out there. This is a chance of a lifetime. Do you know Cambridge is one of the top universities in the world?"
The biting comments cut deep and Renee flushed. She bit her lower lip and stared at Lem for support.
"Okay, Courtney," he said in a whisper. "Tell us what will happen if you go to England."
"I'll be with Daddy and attend Cambridge University."
"But you can't do law," Lem continued.
"Why?" Courtney screamed. "Why the hell not?"
"It's a different country. British laws are different than ours. Anything you learn there won't be recognized here."
Courtney glared at a serious Lem and Renee with her downcast eyes. "Well, I'll do something else," she replied but a quiver of doubt showed for the first time.
"Do you remember Selwyn?" Lem pressed.
"Of course." Courtney regained her momentum and spat the words out. "What the hell has he got to do with anything?"
"He paid for most of last year's education."
"I didn't ask him to."
"No but he did it just the same."
"He had a guilty conscience because of the way his little monsters treated me."
Renee stared at Lem and realized what he was trying to do. "You said it was his children that drove you out?"
"Yeah. So?"
"What about Lady Jane Hunter-Browne's children?" She had no idea whether the woman had children and was counting on the fact that Hank had never told Courtney about her, or if he had, mentioned nothing about a family.
"How did you know about her?" Courtney whispered with the confidence in her voice dissipating. "Daddy said it was a secret and not to mention her to you."
"Do you think she will welcome you with open arms in her house?" Lem asked.
"She doesn't live in a house," Courtney retorted. "It's a semi-detached bungalow."
"And do you know what that is?"
"Well, no," Courtney replied. "A big house like this one, I guess."
Lem frowned. "A semi-detached bungalow is a line of houses all joined together. Often they go straight onto the street. England is a crowded country not a lot bigger than Washington State." Now he had the girl's attention he continued to press his point, explaining how she could be cut off from everyone and if things went wrong, could be isolated in a foreign country.
Renee watched Courtney's face as Lem talked. It appeared he was beginning to convince her.
"So all we say is to weigh everything up," Lem concluded. "Talk to Ken and Linda. Phone your Grandma and talk to her. It's not true that we're trying to hold you here and you know that, don't you?"
Renee noticed his eyes bore into Courtney who nodded. "I didn't mean it that way. I thought you'd be as thrilled as I was but now…" She glanced up and saw Renee's face. "I don't want to hurt you, Renee."
"That's okay. When does your dad want you to make up your mind, Courtney?"
"He's going home at the end of next week and wants me to go with him."
"Would you mind if we spoke to your dad about it?"
"Why?" Courtney's voice jumped to the defensive.
"To discuss your
choices. Nothing secret. You can be there, too, if you wish."
"I suppose."
"And talk to Ken," Lem added. "How do you think he'll feel if you go away? You've done so much for him. Think what would happen if you left him."
"He'll get another girlfriend," Courtney said in an unconvincing voice. "Perhaps Linda. I reckon she's sweet on him."
Renee caught Lem's eyes but his concerned expressions did not change. She knew they had made Courtney stop and think. If they pushed more it could be counterproductive.
"The decision is yours, Courtney," Lem said. "We can advise and help you but remember, everything we said is because we care for you. Think about that, won't you?"
The girl nodded. "Yeah, okay." Then she left the room.
"I think we handled it the right way. If we'd told her what her father's real motives are I don't think she'd believe us," Lem said.
"The trouble is I think the next time she sees her father, he'll make her forget any doubts we've planted in her mind."
"Then I'll speak to him first," Lem replied grimly. "Perhaps he needs to be told a few home truths."
Renee grimaced. "Okay but be diplomatic."
"Oh, I will but it's more than he deserves," Lem retorted.
****
The Grand Pacific International was a high-rise hotel that catered to the business community, a perfect place for someone of Hank Howlett's standing but the decor didn't impress Lem. Though he could afford this type of place as easy as Howlett, he preferred more family-type accommodation.
As soon as he walked into the main foyer, uniformed staff attended to Lem. Perhaps it was the Cadillac that attracted their attention. He grinned and wondered whether the reception would have been as prompt if he had arrived in Ken's old Mustang.
"Mr. Howlett is in the games room, Mr. Erksberg. Shall I page him for you?" An immaculately dressed man behind the reception desk responded to Lem's inquiry.
"No, point me in the right direction," Lem replied in a cold voice. Snobbery did not impress him one bit.
"As you wish." The man sniffed. "You will require a visitor's pass." He handed Lem a small gold card. "We usually wear a tie in the games room." He glanced at Lem's polo neck jersey.
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